Closer (2004) is a romantic drama that revolves around four people caught in a cycle of love and betrayal. The film takes a dark turn as the main characters continuously hurt each other emotionally.
Dan (Jude Law) is a writer who is deeply insecure. Larry (Clive Owen) is a dermatologist with a rough and tough personality. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer who craves romance. Alice (Natalie Portman) is a young stripper who lives for love.
Dan meets Alice after she is hit by a car, and their relationship begins when he takes her to the hospital. A year later, Dan writes a novel based on Alice’s life and meets Anna while getting his author photo taken. Despite Alice being nearby, Dan and Anna flirt with each other. A year later, Dan still thinks about Anna, and randomly enters an online chat room, pretending to be her. He meets Larry, who believes he is actually talking to Anna. By chance, Larry and Anna later meet in real life and fall for each other, unaware of Dan’s deception.
The two couples eventually meet at Anna’s photo exhibition, but instead of being content in their relationships, this encounter sparks heartbreak. Dan cheats on Alice with Anna, leading to the collapse of Anna’s marriage with Larry. Although Larry eventually reconciles with Anna, Alice’s relationship with Dan ends when she reveals she had been lying about her real identity. In the end, Dan loses everything due to his selfish choices.
The film explores themes of human selfishness, heartbreak, and the consequences of emotional dishonesty. The characters fail to truly understand each other or themselves. They manipulate emotions, play mind games, and pursue their own desires without forming genuine connections.
Closer (2004) was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Clive Owen) and Best Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman) in 2005. It also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Clive Owen) and Best Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman) in 2005.
Closer (2004) Awards:
Academy Awards (77th Oscars) – 2 Nominations, 0 Wins
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor – Clive Owen
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress – Natalie Portman
Golden Globes (62nd Golden Globes) – 5 Nominations, 2 Wins
- Won: Best Supporting Actor – Clive Owen
- Won: Best Supporting Actress – Natalie Portman
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated: Best Director – Mike Nichols
- Nominated: Best Screenplay – Patrick Marber
British Academy Film Awards (58th BAFTAs) – 3 Nominations, 1 Win
- Won: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Clive Owen
- Nomination: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Natalie Portman
- Nomination: Best Adapted Screenplay – Patrick Marber
